With better transport in the region, local people can travel from one place to another with peace of mind, thereby contributing to uplift of their socio-economic life
Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Soe Win attends opening of Homalin Airport

YANGON, 3 Aug - Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Soe Win this morning attended the opening ceremony of Homalin Airport in Homalin, Khanti District, Sagaing Division and made a speech on the occasion.

To attend the ceremony, Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Soe Win, accompanied by member of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Ye Myint, Chairman of Sagaing Division Peace and Development Council Commander of North-West Command Maj-Gen Soe Naing, ministers, deputy ministers, senior military officers and heads of department, arrived at Homalin Airport by special flight of Myanma Airways at 9.30 am.

They were welcomed at the airport by Brig-Gen Khin Maung Aye of Kalay Station, Brig-Gen Mya Win of Kyikon Station, local authorities, officials and local people. Next, Secre-tary-2 Lt-Gen Soe Win and party attended the opening ceremony of Homalin Airport held at the runway of the airport.

Also present on the occasion were member of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Ye Myint, Chairman of Sagaing Division Peace and Development Council Commander of North-West Command Maj-Gen Soe Naing, Ministry for Mines Brig-Gen Ohn Myint, Minister for Information Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan, Minister for Transport Maj-Gen Hla Myint Swe, Minister for Communications, Posts and Telegraphs Brig-Gen Thein Zaw, Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Brig-Gen Maung Maung Thein, Indian Ambassador to the Union of Myanmar Mr Rajiv Kumar Bhatia, senior military officers, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, heads of department, local authorities and departmental officials, social organizations, students and local people.

First, Lt-Gen Ye Myint, Commander Maj-Gen Soe Naing and Minister Maj-Gen Hla Myint Swe formally opened the airport.

Next, the Secretary-2 and party, the Indian Ambassador and officials had a documentary photo taken together with members of social organizations of Homalin Township and local people.

Next, Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Soe Win made a speech. He said that Homalin Airport opened today was just the one at which the small aircraft could land and take off in the past. The runway was then the 2900 feet long gravel one. Since modern aircraft could not use the airport, Homalin, Lashi and Htamanthi were difficult of access. They could be accessible by waterways and land, taking much of time.

Traveling by land took time in the rainy season since the motor roads were gravel and earth ones. Nowadays, with the emergence of modern Homalin Airport, local people and service personnel are enjoying the fruits of better transport.

Transport infrastructures, the prerequisites for regional and national development, were built one after another with own strength and own technology. In accord with the guidance of the Head of State, Myanmar engineers were engaged in construction of the new airport, upgrading of the old ones, upgrading of motor roads and rail roads, building of bridges large and small and jetties.

Transport infrastructure was built and upgraded with the aim of developing the states and divisions which lagged behind in development for various reasons, of bringing about harmonious development in all parts of the nation, of ensuring better transport across the nation. Roads running south and north as well as those running east and west were upgraded. The highway leading to Putao of northern-most part of Myanmar via Myitkyina-Mandalay-Yangon-Dawei-Myeik-Kawthoung Road has emerged and Myitkyina and Dawei can be accessible by rail.

New airports, runways and airport buildings are being upgraded with added momentum for ensuring better transport in the air transport sector.

There were only 21 airports in 1988 and there are now 26 airports including Homalin Airport.

There were six airports at which F-28 fokker jets could land and take off and there are now 17 airports at which F-28 fokker jets could land and take off.

A significant progress has been made in the air transport sector in the time of the Tatmadaw Government. Mandalay International Airport which has the characteristics of an international airport was built and opened. Likewise, new Magway Airport was built to ensure better transport in Magway Division and An Airport was built in Rakhine State.

With a view to ensuring better transport in Sagaing Division, Monywa Airport and Homalin Airport were upgraded simultaneously.

There is an increase in tourist arrival in Myanmar day by day since Myanmar has introduced the Market-Oriented Economic System. To ensure better transport for tourists at home and abroad, modern airports are of paramount importance. Nowadays, modern airports in Myitkyina, Kengtung, Tachilek, Kawthoung, Myeik, Sittway and An, at which jet planes can land and take off, have emerged in addition to Yangon International Airport and Mandalay International Airport.

Out of Monywa, Homalin, Hkamti and Kalay airports, Kalay airport has made the jet planes serviceable, and Monywa airport is being upgraded. The extension of the runway of Hkamti Airport will soon be completed. Hkamti Airport and Homalin Airport will contribute much to better transport in upper Chindwin where there was poor transport in the past.

With better transport in the region, the local people can travel from one place to another with peace of mind, thereby contributing to uplifting of their socio-economic life and trading.

The government has been making earnest efforts with goodwill with the aim of enabling the nation to keep abreast with the global nations and of enabling the people to enjoy the fruits of development.

Irrigation facilities including Thaphanseik Dam, the biggest in the nation, were built one after another in Sagaing Division for agricultural purpose. With the emergence of those water supplies, Sagaing Division has now become the granary of Upper Myanmar.

To be able to transport agricultural produce and other regional products, Chindwin Bridge (Monywa) was built whereas Monywa-Yagyi-Kalaywa road and Sagaing-Shwebo-Myitkyina road were constructed. Together with Hsinbyushin Bridge, new rail roads and motor roads were upgraded.

Realizing the goodwill of the Government, local people, local authorities and departmental officials are to make concerted efforts for regional development and safeguard the airport opened today for its durability.

Afterwards, Minister for Transport Maj-Gen Hla Myint Swe made a speech. He said that Homalin Airport was built in 1976. The runway of airport had been upgraded into the 9000 feet long, 200 feet wide and 26 inches thick (concrete) one.

Arrangements have been made to upgrade the airport into the one at which Boeing 747-400 can land and take off.

In the past, there was only Yangon International Airport in air transport with foreign countries. Mandalay International Airport has been now opened. Yangon International Airport is now being upgraded. Likewise, Magway Airport was opened on 6 June 2003. Other airports in the nation are being upgraded in order that Boeing 737-400 aircraft can land and take off.

Homalin is difficult of access. The airport was built in accord with the guidance of the Head of State to ensure better transport and uplift of the living standard of the local people as well as regional development.

Afterwards, Commander Maj-Gen Soe Naing made a speech. He said that Homalin Airport is of great help for Sagaing Division since towns along Upper Chindwin River, Homalin, Khanti, Lashi and Lahe can be accessible by it. It took three days from Monywa to Homalin by waterways and about one day by land in the past. With the emergence of the airport, it now takes only one hour from Mandalay to Homalin by air.

He expressed thanks to Head of State Senior General Than Shwe who had given guidance for the emergence of the airport, the Myanmar engineers and technicians who contributed their shares in building the airport and local people who rendered assistance in the project.

Next, U Tun Min Aung of Homalin, on behalf of the local people, spoke words of thanks.

Next, Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Soe Win greeted those present and performed rituals of golden and silver showers to mark the success of the ceremony. There will be flights twice a week from Mandalay International Airport to Homalin Airport, it is learnt.